Alberta ordered by Health Canada to destroy COVID-19 vaccines

A spokesperson for Alberta Health announced that as of August 31, the older versions of COVID-19 vaccines are no longer available, and the new formulation has not yet arrived.

"To facilitate the introduction of the latest COVID-19 vaccine formulation (KP.2) for the fall, Health Canada directed provinces and territories to remove and destroy all existing COVID-19 vaccine formulations (XBB) from all sites across their jurisdictions on August 31, 2024," Alberta Health stated on Wednesday.

Health Canada explained that the directive was intended to ensure a seamless transition to the new vaccines without interrupting access.

"The withdrawal of currently available COVID-19 XBB vaccines should be timed to align with the authorization of the new formulation vaccines, ensuring Canadians have uninterrupted access to COVID-19 vaccines," a Health Canada statement said.

The agency is currently reviewing submissions from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax for updated COVID-19 vaccines on an expedited basis, but no specific timeline has been provided for when the new vaccines will be available.

Meanwhile, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is conducting a national research study on immunization coverage and related attitudes among adults. The study, conducted through a mail-out survey, seeks responses from at least 20,000 participants, though only randomly selected households will receive a letter with a survey code.

Since 2001, the federal government has conducted similar surveys almost every two years to track disease coverage and improve vaccination programs. The 2023 survey results indicate that coverage for routine vaccines ranges from 87 percent for measles to about six percent for mpox.

Overall, 18 percent of adults expressed hesitancy or reluctance to be vaccinated, citing safety concerns, fear of side effects, and a belief that vaccines are unnecessary as the most common reasons for refusal.